Marco Bezzecchi
VR46 and Ducati are now finalising the terms of Nicolo Bulega’s contract to bring the World Superbike rider to MotoGP in 2027, yet they have set restrictions on his move.
Bulega has long intended to switch from the top tier of production bike racing to the elite of prototype racing in 2027. There would be little more for the 26-year-old to achieve in WSBK if he were to remain in the series next year, with the Italian storming towards the 2026 title.
Through the first seven rounds, Bulega remains unbeaten with a perfect record of 18 wins in 18 races (including Superpole). Toprak Razgatlioglu still remains the last rider to beat Bulega in a World Superbike race when the Pramac MotoGP star got his final WSBK win in Portugal.
How many podiums would Nicolo Bulega score as a rookie if he moves to MotoGP for 2027?
Bulega's pace at World Superbikes' Balaton Park round would have put him on the MotoGP Hungarian GP podium!
VR46 do not want Nicolo Bulega to bring his World Superbike crew chief to MotoGP
Ducati are now keen to switch Bulega to MotoGP in 2027, but they know that VR46 are their only satellite squad with a possible vacancy for the Italian next year. Sporting director Mauro Grassilli has also noted that Bulega’s MotoGP hopes are in VR46’s hands, as they have a say.
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Nicolo Bulega from height to career
It now seems like VR46’s say is yes, as Motosprint reports that Bulega is set to join the team that Valentino Rossi founded after seeing off competition from Luca Marini, Celestino Vietti and 2026 incumbent Franco Morbidelli. But VR46 will not roll out the red carpet for Bulega.
While ‘rumours’ are now ‘leaking out’ that VR46 and Ducati are negotiating the final details of Bulega’s MotoGP contract, the Tavullia-based outfit have imposed restrictions on who his crew chief can be. VR46 are unlikely let Bulega bring Tommaso Raponi with him from WSBK.
VR46 prefer that Bulega works with one of their two current crew chiefs, as Matteo Flamigni and Massimo Branchini will not be working with Morbidelli and Fabio Di Giannantonio again next year. Morbidelli is out of contract, and Di Giannantonio has agreed to join KTM in 2027.
Flamigni has worked with Morbidelli since the latter joined VR46 in 2025, as the former took on a new challenge after he worked with Marco Bezzecchi at VR46 for the 2024 season. The 2025 season also saw Branchini replace David Munoz as Di Giannantonio’s VR46 crew chief.
Would Nicolo Bulega completing an unbeaten World Superbike season eclipse Toprak Razgatlioglu’s career achievements in WSBK?
Now, Bulega could become Flamigni or Branchini’s next challenge when the Italian makes his expected switch to MotoGP with VR46 next year. The restrictions that VR46 are imposing on Bulega will also likely force Di Giannantonio to get a new crew chief when he moves to KTM.
Morbidelli achieved his best season since 2000 with Flamigni’s support in 2025, as the 2020 MotoGP title runner-up finished seventh in the standings after scoring his only two podiums since 2021. Di Giannantonio is on course for his career-best season in the 2026 campaign.
Di Giannantonio currently ranks third in the 2026 riders’ standings through eight rounds and the VR46 star is even the leading Ducati name with 134 points to date. The Italian has three podium finishes thus far in 2026, too, including winning the crash-laden Catalan Grand Prix.
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